University Singers

Group to to showcase individual style at Sunday recital

By Zach Dionne

Posted on Nov. 09, 2006, at 12:00 a.m.

After many weeks of practice, The University Singers will host perform for the second time this season on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. in Minsky Recital Hall.

“We had our first ‘runout’ concert last Friday at the Orono Methodist Church,” said Lee Hunter, president of the University Singers. “We had a fairly decent crowd and Singers performed very well.”

Inherently present in a college chorus are the challenges of member turnover and learning new pieces. Both are progressing smoothly this semester, according to Hunter.

“Our group this year is learning very fast and creating our own style. We have a very ambitious new group and combined with our older, experienced members with recent haircuts, we are progressing very fast,” Hunter joked.

The Singers concert will be divided into two segments. The first will consist of “more traditional and classical” pieces such as Mozart’s “Requiem” and Johannes Brahms’ “O Schone Nacht.” The second half of the show will be devoted to “a lighter, more upbeat style,” featuring selections from 20th and 21st century composers.

“The Steiners and Renaissance will sing a few songs [each] for an intermission,” Hunter said, referring to University of Maine’s premiere male and female a capella groups, also composed of Singers members. Both groups performed Tuesday in DPC 100 in a concert featuring all four of UMaine’s a capella groups. According to Sara Richardson, a member of Renaissance, the group will debut two new songs at Sunday’s concert.

Next semester the Singers will continue their ambitious touring tradition, heading to Philadelphia, Pa. The group will also perform Mozart’s “Requiem” in its entirety with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra in April.

Sunday’s concert is free for students with a MaineCard. Tickets are $5 for non-students. This will be the last chance to see a Singers performance until their annual Yule Tide Concert in the Maine Center for Arts on Dec. 10.

Campus Currents: Bangor Symphony Orchestra